Relhan Collection : 99 Cambridge Christ’s College. Monument of Sir John Finch MD and Sir Thomas Baines in chapel

Relhan, Richard, 1782-1844

Relhan Collection

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>Relhan was plainly impressed by this magnificent monument, noting first ‘Josephus Catterns sculpsit’ and, rather than attempting to incorporate the long Latin epitaph into the panels, writing underneath his depiction ‘Representation of the Monument on the North side of the altar in Christ College Chapel of white marble erected to record the memory and friendship of Sir John Finch Knt MD and Sir Thomas Baines Knt who were educated together at this College. Sir John died at Constantinople 1680, age 59. His body was brought to England and interred here by his friend who survived but a short period, and was buried in the same vault. Sir Thomas Baines died 1682, age 56’. John Finch was son of the Speaker of the House of Commons, came up to Christ's College in 1645, was admitted at the Inner Temple 1644, gained a BA at Balliol College (Oxford) 1647, MA (Cambridge) 1649, and MD (Padua) 1660. He was the English Consul at Padua, then professor at Pisa. His colourful career continued when he returned to England and was elected extraordinary Fellow of the College of Physicians 1661, knighted 1661, made Fellow of the Royal Society 1663, Minister to the Grand Duke of Tuscany 1665, Ambassador at Constantinople 1672-82, special mission to Adrianople 1675, died 1680.Thomas Baines of Whaddon, Cambs also had a cosmopolitan life. He came to Christ’s 1638, gained his MA 1649, took an MD in Padua, travelled with John Finch 1651, FRCP (extraordinary) 1661, Professor of Music at Gresham College 1661, knighted 1672, Physician to the Embassy at Florence 1664-70 and at Constantinople until his death 1682. </p><p>Saunders P pers comm; ODNB 2009 <i>sub</i> Finch; Venn 1922-7; Wilson 1995</p></p>